Kepler-450 c
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-450 c is a confirmed sub-neptune exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-450, located approximately 1487.2 light-years (455.98 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2015 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0214% across the stellar disk), this world measures 2.62 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 12.5 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 3.83 g/cm³ (an intermediate density indicative of a deep water-ice mantle or dense volatile envelope), a surface gravity of 1.82 g⊕ (17.85 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 24.4 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-450, Kepler-450 c completes one full revolution every 15.413 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.13351 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 94.2 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). With a near-circular eccentricity of e = 0.02 (ranging from 0.1308 AU at periapsis to 0.1362 AU at apoapsis), the planet experiences minimal orbital distance variation.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 944 K (+671°C / +1240°F) and receiving 213.73 S⊕ (~290,888 W/m²), Kepler-450 c orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-450 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 6,197 K, a radius of 1.6416 R☉, a mass of 1.19 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 3.566 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates an estimated stellar age of 2.57 Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.128 dex (metal-rich relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-450 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 11.991 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere. The Kepler-450 system is a multi-planet architecture hosting 3 confirmed worlds, with Kepler-450 c sharing its stellar neighborhood alongside Kepler-450 d, Kepler-450 b.
Methodology: Computed using the Schulze-Makuch et al. (2011) weighted metric comparing physical interior (radius, estimated density) and surface thermal regime (escape velocity, equilibrium temperature).
Discovery Facility: Kepler · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | Kepler-450 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 6,197 K |
| Stellar Radius | 1.6416 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 1.1900 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 3.566 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.128 dex |
| Stellar Age | 2.570 Gyr |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 11.991 · G: 11.653 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 3 Planets |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.133510 AU |
| Orbital Period | 15.413 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 94.2 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.02000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.7300° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 3.83 g/cm³ (24.4 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 213.7310 S⊕ (~290,888 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 1487.200 LY (455.982 pc) |